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Month: February 2014

I have had the most insane, busy week ever. First, on Monday, I got an email from my new boss about starting work at my new job. Then, Monday night I decided to go to a tattoo shop and get my nose and my lip pierced. On Tuesday, I went to my first ever aerial silks class; my first dance class in over 6 months, then I walked around Tempe Beach Park with my good friend Codie. I was also able to spend about 3 hours on the phone catching up with a friend from high school, Mason.Then, on Wednesday, I got my brakes checked and the cost was supposed to be 900$ (too much!) but a friend was able to fix them for 375$. I babysat Wednesday night for Pinnacle church, co-teaching a lesson on 1 Kings 18 with my dear friend Bethany. Thursday, I got a mole removed and went to Christian Challenge, where I was blessed by the teaching on Darwinism and how the bible and Creation debunk Evolution. After Challenge, we all played soccer (which I also have not played in years) and I came out covered in bruises. Friday was eventful as well. I made and ate lunch with the girls bible study ladies, and we read and studied the book of Esther. Friday night, I babysat Colton and Hendrix for the Powers, and I really enjoyed hanging out with those little lovebugs, as well as getting my laundry all done! All of these things happened around my morning and online classes Monday-Thursday. Needless to say (but I’m gonna say it anyways) I had the most eventful and blessed time in these past few days.

This week has really put into perspective for me just how much time I have and just how much I can get done in that time. There are 24 hours in each day, and 7 days a week makes 168 hours. If you sleep for a third of that, you have 112 hours. If you go to school you can subtract that many hours, I only go for 6 hours on campus but I also have two classes off campus so that would probably only account for about 15 hours of school/homework a week total. That gives me 97 hours. Then, once I get my job, I will be working about 25 hours a week (maximum). Now that goes down to 72 hours. 72 hours is equal to three whole days. Three days is a huge amount of time to get things done. Even if the times are different for you and you only have 48 hours of “free time”, two whole days is still a huge amount of time to do things you have been wanting to do for a long time.

I have been looking for a job for a month and I finally got one. I have always wanted my nose and my lip pierced and I got that done. For months, I have been praying for a great dance class and have dreamed of taking Aerial Silks for years and finally worked up the courage to go and take that class. I got my brakes checked since they’ve been squealing for a long time. I officially got involved in the children’s ministry team at an incredible church. I overcame my fear of doctors and went to a doctors appointment by myself without having an anxiety attack or crying. I spent time with friends. I got an awful mole removed that always got in the way of me brushing my hair. I learned about Creationism and certain ways to describe how flawed The Theory of Evolution really is. I actually played a team sport (again, for the first time in years) and enjoyed it. I finally am leading my own bible study for young ladies and God is blessing us all with his wisdom. Lastly, I was able to care for two sweet little munchkins and teach them some sign language, and I got all my laundry done!

God is so good and He shows His glory through things like this. Every single moment this week, the Lord was keeping me awake and giving me strength for the busy schedule that I had. I woke up every morning very early and went to bed very late. I was able to submit all my homework on time and was able to bless others with service for the glory of God. I hope and pray that every week will be as fruitful as this one, and now that it is Saturday, I get to sit in bed and rest until my good friend Vincent’s show tonight!

So with all that being said, go out and get things done. Buy the ingredients for that delicious looking pinterest recipe, and make it. Sign up for a class outside of school you have wanted to take for ages. Write a blog post. Read some blogs. Go out and help people. Read your bible. Do some art. Get your car looked at. Clean your house. Do some laundry. Start learning a new language. Walk around and sightsee. Call your mom and tell her about your day. Or your grandma, or your best friend. Use your time to do things, life is not a spectator sport.

P.S. A huge thank you to all the wonderful, compassionate people in my life. This year has already been rough for me emotionally and financially. I love knowing that I have a huge support system full of people who will encourage me and bless me daily.

So 2014 has been a huge bucket of crazy for me. Little did I know I would be going through a break up from my first long term relationship, quitting my job, and jumping back on leadership with Christian Challenge. This particular blog is a relief to write, because there are so many big things happening in my life to share and record for me to read in later years.

First of all, break ups suck. Ladies, I want you to read this part carefully. If you are a believer, and you are dating/in a relationship with a man who is also a believer, do not ever ignore it if the scripture is in contradiction to anything you or him are doing. A relationship between a man of God and a woman of God will never be fruitful if they are not seeking God and being obedient. Also, make sure you are at similar/the same stage in your faith. Someone who has been in the word and seeking Christ will absolutely be more spiritually mature than someone who is just riding along, not reading scripture and not walking with the Lord. Be aware of that! It is imperative that you do not give yourself away emotionally at all to someone who you are not equally yoked with. Setting each other up for failure is unfair and completely hurtful in the end. If you are living your life for Christ and someone comes along and tries to change that, run the other way.

Psalm 16:2, I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”

Never give that up for a man. Test what he says to the scriptures, and make sure he is really seeking God before you even agree to go on a date with him. A man’s character will be revealed (generally) by the things he finds entertaining. Really watch and make sure he is a man of integrity and is respectful. With that being said, I have learned some very difficult lessons through this past relationship and I will be receptive to the things the Lord taught me for my next relationship.

Secondly, I quit my job. Another very important life lesson: You should never ever let yourself be harassed in a work environment. Report it. Say something to your bosses, and if they do not do anything or what they do is ineffective, go to whoever is above them. When the circumstances do not get any better, let it go. God gave me signs a while ago to quit my job, and my stubborn, selfish heart held onto it because the pay was good and I had freedom. Honestly, the breaking point was when my decision was between my job and fellowship with believers in Pinetop. If there was one lesson I already knew before the chaos of 2014, it is that when you hear the Lord calling you to something, what He has for you is so much better than what you have, even if you think it is the BEST. I, with reckless abandon, quit my job and chose fellowship. Ever since getting out of that horrible situation, the Lord has blessed me with joy greater than any I have felt in this new year, and I could not be more grateful for that.

Lastly, I have to mention Christian Challenge. Shout out to all of you, you know who you are. There is seriously an army of us, and I count all of you as my brothers and sisters in this mess called college. When I went through the break up, all of these people welcomed me with open arms and completely blessed me with their grace and genuine love. They blew me away with all of their support.

The hardest thing was losing some other friends after it all happened, but it just goes to prove this verse:

Luke 8:17 For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.

Some people I thought cared for me started acting very cold towards me. At first it was hurtful, but then I realized that if their love was conditional, it wasn’t real love. So in a manner of speaking, there is no skin off my back. I still love and care for everyone I met in the past year, and I do not regret making friends with all of those people. I am completely humbled by the ones who have come forth and made sure I have been doing well, and the ones who have been encouraging me. It is safe to say that the Lord began the healing process from the moment it was over, and all of my wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ have shown their true hearts by taking care of me. Again, you all know who you are. A special note for Christian Challenge is in order, though, because they are my family up here in the valley and they have loved me unconditionally since day one.

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So here I am, on the flipside of all this. I am back at Pinnacle Church, back on leadership at Christian Challenge, and starting up a women’s bible study in my apartment, as I look for a new job (I’ve got some interviews this week, fingers crossed!)